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Women consuming 2 diet drinks per day were 16% more likely to die during 11.9 year follow-up

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Friday, August 16, 2019 9:20 am Email this article

Women consuming 2 or more artificially-sweetened beverages per day were 31% more likely to have an ischemic stroke (where there is an interruption in blood supply in the brain such as caused by a blood clot), 29% more likely to have coronary heart disease, and 16% more likely to die (all-cause mortality) during an 11.9 year follow-up according to a 2019 study.

Subjects: 81,714 women ages 50-79 years at baseline

The study included 81,714 women ages 50-79 years at baseline when they were enrolled in the study in 1993 to 1998.

Possible reasons why artificially-sweetened beverages might do this

“Additionally, saccharin and aspartame have been also associated with impaired glucose homeostasis [the body’s ability to control blood sugar levels] and hyperinsulinemia [elevated insulin levels],” the authors of the paper note.

“These data are underscored by recent experimental studies demonstrating that artificial sweeteners can cause glucose intolerance in mice by altering gut microbiota and cause dysbiosis [an imbalance of bacteria in the gut] and glucose intolerance in humans.”

Conclusion

“In this study of well-characterized postmenopausal women in the United States, self-reported consumption of [artificially sweetened beverages] was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke, [coronary heart disease], and all-cause mortality,” the authors of the paper concluded.